In a young team, Josh Harrop wouldn’t stand out as one of the most inexperienced players, however, until the final day of last season, he had never made a senior competitive appearance.
That day, however, he announced himself to the English football world, scoring a superb goal on his Manchester United debut at Old Trafford.
That was, at least for now, his only game in the Premier League, joining a very small group of players who have scored in their only top flight game in this country. That is because he made the decision to cut his ties with his boyhood club in the summer to go in search of regular first team football.
That led him up the motorways to PR1, where he agreed a four-year contract at Deepdale. Almost four months later, he is already closing in on double figures of appearances and has a couple of free kick goals to his name.
The One And Only sat down with the Lilywhites’ No.10 at the Springfields training ground this week to find out about how the Stockport-born man was settling into his new life at Preston North End?
“I’m definitely settled,” he told the matchday programme. “I get on with all of the lads well. It was a big step for me – a new step – it took me a while to get used it; it is a different way of playing, the Championship; but now I am settling in and getting used to it.
“You have got to adjust to all different things and I have done that.
“When I first came, it was a bit stop and start with injuries, but I have got myself fit now and I am getting into the swing of things with games every week because I have not been used to games on a weekly basis. It is just a case of getting used to the basics and it will only get better from here.
“It is a different challenge and I’m enjoying it. Going into games knowing you need to get the three points is a great feeling – especially when you get them. It is just exciting knowing, with the team we have got here and the talent we have got, that you can go into any game and win any game. It is a good feeling with this group of lads, I am just excited to see how this season goes.”
Having been at what is perhaps the biggest club in the world from a young age, breaking that bond and making your own way in the footballing world is a big decision, but the attacking-midfielder is hoping to return to the top flight pretty quickly with his new team.
“I was coming from a club with which I had been with all my life, so I’d never known anything different. Moving away from that club after scoring on my debut was a massive thing to do, but I think it was the right thing to do. I’m happy where I am now and I’m happy to be playing for Preston North End and doing well.
“That’s where I want to be – back in the Premier League; and hopefully with this club. We have got good players here and good talent in the squad so that is what we will be aiming for and that is where we want to be, as a team and me individually.
“I knew a few of the players before I came here anyway and I knew they had talent which sort of helped me with my move as well. I was not surprised by the quality when I got here, I knew the players were going to be playing to a good standard, but when I got here and started training I did realise we have a good set that could go far.
“It only excited me more knowing that I was coming to a club with a highly-talented team.”
There is loads more from Josh in Saturday’s The One And Only, where we also have interviews and features with Greg Cunningham, Paul Huntington, Ben Pearson and more.
This will be on sale from Friday afternoon from the club’s Sir Tom Finney Stand ticket office and then around the ground on the day of the game, still for just £3, so make sure you pick up your copy.